Southern Idaho town hopes to fix smelly whey pond

Published:October 28, 2013 10:11AM

A new filtration system will reduce the odor created by whey recycled from a Greek yogurt plant.

HOLLISTER, Idaho (AP) — Residents of the small southern Idaho town of Hollister are hopeful that a new filtration system planned for a local Greek yogurt plant will solve what they say is a smelly problem.

The Times-News reports Chobani is installing a reverse-osmosis filtration system to reduce the volume of acid whey leaving the company’s Twin Falls plant. The acid whey is typically hauled to a farm near Hollister and spread on the land as a soil amendment. The whey is also used as feed for livestock.

Area residents began complaining about the smell when the whey was first hauled to the farm. This spring, more than 1,000 truckloads of whey and wash water were hauled to the location under a recycling contract with the farm owner.